System of electric contaol



May lig, 19235.

Filed 392@ AMA may 12, waa m5316213 F. SCHNEIDER SYSTEM OF ELECTRG CONTROL Fi1ed-June i924 2 shams-sham 2 tion and forming part thereof an apparatus embodying my invention is illustrated d1agrammatically by lWay of example.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is an elevation of a master clock,

Fig. 2A is a detail view illustrating the operation of the tapper,

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of the i switch controlling the electromotor and co'- herer circuits,

Fig. 5 is a detail View villustrating the means for locking the switch controlling the circuit of the electromotor,

Fig. S is an elevation illustrating the commutating contact and extinguishing means of a secondary clock circuit.

3 engages the pinion 9 of the wheel 7, to

the axle of which is fastened the detent disc 8. With the wheel 7 the pinion 11 of the balance wheel 10 meshes, the escapement 12 of the escapement wheel 13 cooperating with said balance wheel. 14 is the spiral spring of the escapement wheel. Anintermediate wheel 15 engages on one side with the barrel-wheel 4 and on the other side with a wheel 16, whichis on the same axle as a in-y wheel 17. The wheel 17 yprovided with the catches 18 engages with the pinion of the wheel 19, on the axle of. which isset the switch disc 20 with cams 21 together' with the switch lever 22. The switch disc wheel 19 vengages with the pi'nion 25 of the wheelA 24 andthe latter with the pinion 27, on the axle of which is fastened the belt-pulley 26. The latter is rotated through the belt 28 by the discv 29 set on the axle of the electromotor'30. One brush of the motor 30 is connected by a conductor 31 with avbattery 34, whilst the other brush is connected through lthe conductor 32 by means of screws 33 with the frame plate 2. From the battery 34A a conductor 35 leads to a contact pin 37 insulated by the insulating sleeve 36 against the frame 2. Beneath this Contact pin the rotary shaft 38 of the contact angle lever 39 1s mounted on the frame 2. A spring (not shown) tends to force this lever. against the Contact p in 37 when the catch 41 pivoted in the frame releases it. The arm 42 of the catch 41 is under the pressure of aspring 44.

' In the frame -2 is also mounted the shaft 45 of the drop-hammer 43--46 releasing the catch 41-42. The stop pins 47 limit the 'movements of the .catch 41--42. 'There is also mounted in the frame 2 the release catch 48 of the electromagnet armature 52 moved by the switch disc 20 by means ofthe pin 23,- which catch is under the pressure of a spring 50 and its movement is limitedby the stop pin 49. On the frame 2 is also mounted the shaft which carries the twoarmed lever 51-52 of which the-arm 52 is an armature of soft iron and has on its curved outer surface an extension 53 shapedV as a plate-spring. There is further fastened to the frame 2 a stop screw 54 limiting the movement of the armature 52,' and an electromagnet 56-57 whose ,coil on the one hand is connected by theconductor 58 with the rear coherer upright which is concealed in Fig. 1 by the front coherer upright 64, and on the other hand by the conductor 59 with a contact spring 91 inserted in the frame 2 and insulated by the insulating s leeve 96. To the conductor 58 is fitted the conductor 61 which leads to the lcontact spring 93 insulated by the insulating sleeve 94 against the frame 2. A further conductor leads on one side to the contact spring 92 insulated by the insulating sleeve 95 against the frame 2 and on the other side in its ex.- tension 62 to the front upright (34 on thebase 1. The coherer support itself consists of two uprights, the U-shaped holders 67 andthe screws 68 and 69 carrying the coherer 66. The coherer upright 64 is connected by means of the screws 63 through the conductor 70 with one pole of a battery 71, the other pole of which is conductivel connected by the conductor 72 and a screw 3 with the frame 2. In the latter is carried a pinion 89 engaging with the pin-wheel 17, on the axle of which is secured a cam 90. The accessory contact members 8 5, 86 and 87fare fastened to the insulating member 88 rigidly vconnected with the 'rame'plate 2. The contact member 87 is connected by the conductor 78 with the minus pole of the battery 79, from the plus pole of which the conductor 80 leadsto the fra1neplate2 and is held thereto by means oi the screw S1. The contact spring is litted to one system conductor 82 of the secondary clocks 84, whilst the contact spring 86 is connected with the second system conductor.

The operation of my improved master clock is as ollows:-The minute wheel 3 is rotated by the sprin followed by the hands o a clock, because'the spring 5 Iwith the inner end hooked onto the shaft 6 transmits its tractive effort to the minute wheel. The outerl end of the spring 5 is hooked with the loosely mounted springA wheel 4 and the'latter is held in its position by its engagement with the wheel 15. The action of the minute wheel 3 is transmitted in the usual mannerto the other known parte 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 by which the escapement wheel 13 is set rocking. As the minute wheelv 3 has 480.teeth and there are los 5 in the direction current at the time eight pins on the pinion 9, the wheel 7 performs one revolution per minute. Consequently, the disc 8 raises the drop hammer 45, 46, 43 until it drops into a notch of the disc 8 and with its weight 43 mors the arm 42 of the catch 41 downwards, until the catch arm 42 engages its stop-pin 47 (Fig. 1). The hereby released Contact lever 40 starts upwards under the action of the spring coiled on its member 38, makes contact with the contact pin 37 with its contact-spring arm 39 and thereby closes the electromotor circuit as, 39, 37, 35, 34, 31, 30, 32, as. The electroinotor 30 rotates by means of the discs 26-29 and the belt 28, the pinion 27, the wheel 24, with pinion 25, the switchdisc wheel 19 and the pin wheel 17, of which the wheel 16 rotates the intermediate wheel 15 and therewith the barrel-wheel 4, by which the spring 5 is rewound. During the rotation of these elements various operations occur. In the first place, the clockwisc rotating pin wheel 17 by means of its catches 18 completes the downward movement of the tapper 74-75, of which the 'short arm 77 finally slides ofi from the said catch 18 under the ull of the spring coiled onthe shaft 76, wereupon the tapper 74 sgi-ings upwards and strikes the coherer 66 ig. 2). Although the latter is without it requires tapping, in order to arrest any s' mass, shortly before the arrival of the electric impulse from the master clock. l

The next stage of operation is accom-l plished by the switch-wheel 19, which during its anti-clockwise rotation lifts the vsh rter arm of the catch 48 by means of the pin 23 on the rim of the wheel, whereby its longer arm, hitherto engaging the stoppin 49 under the pressure of the'spring 50, is moved downwards until the short arm 51 of the armature 52 slides away from the catch body and the latter falls downwards by its own weight under rotation about thel axle 55. The spring 53 engages the rim of the escapement wheel 13 and nally arrests the wheel, stopping the clockwork, while the switch disc wheel 19 continues its rot-ation. The switch disc 20 lined on the axle of the wheel 19 engages withvts front end the contact spring 91 set inthe insulation sleeve 96,- whereby the coherer circuit is switched on,

although the coherer is not he circular front end of the switch disc 2O then slides under the contact pressure of the spring 91 further (Fig. 3) and at the next moment thel coherer 66 is cohered by the im'- pulse sentfrom the master clock, thereby closing the circuit so that now the coherer Circuit 2o, 91, 5e, 5e, 58, c5, ce, 69, 68, 67, 64, 63, 70, 7.1, 72, 73 is closed, the pole 57 of the electromagnet 56 becomes energized and the armature 52 is attracted. Meur while; the spring 53 starts its sliding more yet cohe'red.

intering-of the coherer ment forward, away from' the escapement wheel 13. and thereby sets the works going again. During the proceeding, the short arm 51 of the armature 52 has slid over the nose of the catch 48 into its initial locked position. Atihe next stage, on further rotation of the switch disc 20, its cam 21 closes the remaining contacts 92, 93, posi.n tively and at considerable pressure, whereby the auxiliary circuits 20, 91, 92, 6G, 62, 63, 65, 61. 93 parallel to the coherer arecloscd. rThis lust operation is a safety switching which serves to keep the clock going, even if for any reason the electric impulse should tail to arrive from the central.'

(-)n further rotation ol the switch disc 20, the contact spring 91 slides away from the cam 21. whereby the contacts 91, 92 and 93 ot' the coherer circuit, and of the auxiliary circuit are separated, the coherer 66 is With= out current, and, as the circuits are completely interrupted, the coherer even if it is merely accidentally infiuenced by forei waves, cannot disturb the regulated wor ing of the clockwork. After the switching oli' of the electromagnet 56-57, the armaiuril 52 remains in its idle position (Fig. l)

until the saine performance is repeated in thc next minute.

Shortly before the revolution of the switch disc wheel 19 is completed, the arm 22 mounted on the saine shaft with this wheel and rotating with it, engages the nose 4() of the contact lever 38, 39 5), whereby the latter is placed in and locked bythe catch 41.` The reaction of the catch regulated that the catch arm 42 raises the hammer 13 resting on it to the end of its stroke. Mcanwhile,'the contact 37, 39, and therewith the. circuit .of the electrornotor 30 is interrupted, whereupon the vertical tread and switch wheels also end their rotation. For stopping the wheels no special apparatos is provided, because the idle running ot' the motor 30 as well as the switch wheels is counteracted byV two springs, the drawspring of the clockwork together; with the spring 0f the. tappe'r 7 5`77,` The pitch of the two wheels 17, 19 is so chosen, that at the completion of a, revolutionI 19 the tapper lever arm 77 is raised by the tension of the tapped spring until. shortly be'- fore its falling away-iirom the" respective catch 18. Further, duri one revolution of the switch disc wheel 19, the wheels and pinions 16, 17, 15. -lare so rotated together, that the spring 5 is rewound and that the spring-wheel 89 engaging with the pin wheel 17 makes a half-revolution, during which the cam 90 for instance'slips past the contact spring 85, whereby the secondary clock circuit 90. 85, 82, 84, 83, 87, 78, 79, 80, 81 is closed, which causes the hands of the secondarycle-'ks to move on.

its idle position spring 44 is so of the wheel for one *minute c At the next half revolution of the cam 90, it slips past the contact spring 86 and there by connects the system for reverse iiow of current. ln both cases, the switching opera-tions are effected under high Contact pressure, because the earn 90 is operated by the high speed motor 30 at great reduction, so that it is able. to control the heavily loa-ded switch members Without difficulty. Consequently, the switch parts are able to carry high current intensities, so that a great number of secondary clocks can be 'connected with the system.

ln the operation described,4 time is indicated by a dial-train (not shown)A actuated by the minute wheel 3, but the intermit- `Vtelit reception oi' the electric Wave which the master clock sends each minute may also be utilized for indication, either by indicating the raising of the armature 52,01 by causing' the armature 52 to directly .actuate the dial-train.

. From the description of operation, it will appear that .my improvedl master clock cannot be disturbed by foreign Waves, because the switchmembers 20.-91 serving to receive the. Wave sent are ready forreceiving the impulse only at the normal time of arrivel ol the impulse, with .a small plus and niinus tolerance,

ln order to avoid the disturbing inliuence of thecontact sparks of the alternate current vcontact ot' the secondary clocks on the reception coherer, the latter is constructed as illustrated in Figs. t3 and 7. The devices at present provided do ,not fulfill their object satisfactorily, because the means of extinguis'hmg the sparks, such as condensers,

yresistances .and the like, must stand in a.

quite delinite relation `to the Working energy 'as well as to the electromagnet coils switched into the secondary clocl'circuit. ln practice, however, this condition is diilicult to fulfill, as, on the one hand, the energy of the battery is not constant, and, on the other hand, secondary clocks may be displaced or their number'increased, causing alterations l in the arrival of the ext-raV current.v Consesel ,- ance with dalre llinir adapts tselr auto..

silently, contacts with unreliable spark extinguishing mean-s are not suited for masten clocks regulated by electric valves, be-

causel the sparks, which are only apparently repressed, will generate more electric Waves and thereby excite the reception coherer ot' the master clock at odd times and so disturb it, .d Vfurther disadvantage of the known extinguishing devices is the use of auxiliary contacts with insuicient pressure which become soiled and miidated, so that the sparks are not effectively extinguished.

En ,the commutator of the present invention, this drawback is removed by switching intothe sparking o a coherer resistnovzn type which .timmy to the varia- Lacasse tions of the battery and also automaticah ly alters its resistance with resistance variations in the system. rlhe spark extinguishing action is perfect, so that the commutator Contact with leaf coherer resistance can without difficulty be usedA even 'with main clocks regulated by electric Waves, Without disturbing the reception coherer. Finally, in the commutator according to the invention,not only the main but also the second contacts are positively operated sliding contacts, which have the advantage of keeping themselves bright by constant friction, so that therewith a reliable contact is etected; As the elimination of -the eXtra current sparks is quite successuly accomplished, the Contact surfaces do not require a layer of platinum, which is an important feature from the techincal angd economical point of view. i

rlhe disc 105 (Fig. 6) of the cam 90 is Jlined on a shaft 119 operated by the clockwork, but insulated from it by a sleeve 9T. There is further set on the insulating sleeve 97 the disc 89, in which switch pins 99, 100 are set to either side of. the cam 90. A further switch pin 98 is inserted in the cani 90, whilst the current conveying spring 10i engages under pressure on Athe back of the earn disc 105. To the frame 2 of the clockwork is secured the'insulation member 88 80. vTo both sides or' the insulating meinber 88 are screwed laminated contact springs 85, S6. Beneath the cam 90 the insulating member 103 is fitted to the wheel-Work frame 2 and to its sides are securedy tivo auxiliary contact springs 101, 102 by means of screws. The contact'spring 101 is connected with a flake Vcoherer resistance 10T by the conductor 106, and said resistance 107 is connected by the' conductor 108 with the contact spring 85 by means ci a screw 122. The other auxiliary contact spring 102 is connected with, another flake coherer resistance 1710 by the conductor 109, and said resistance 110 is connected bv the con; ductor 111 with the main contact spring' 86 by means of a screw ,123. To the main contact springs 85, Sti are connected conduc- 89 and the cam disc 105, are `rotated clockwise through 1800, for instance, everv minute. ln the first place, the. pin 99 mounted on the insulated disc' 89 engages the main Contact spring 85 and therewith breaks the contact 85-7, 'then the pin 991011 the cani 90 spring 101, whereby the circuit n), 121, ici, 9e, 101, 10e, 1o?, 108, ai. 82,123, se, s?, 12o, '7e closed. The hand of the auxiliary clock cchercr resistance however, does not vet inove for want oi current. On continued rotation of the switch member, the cani 90 engages the mainV contact spring 85, at the sarne tin'ie the pin 99 releases the spring 85, whereby the secondary clock circuit T9, 80, 121, 101, so, 122, sa, e1, es, e?, 12o, le, is closed forl tull intensity, whereupon the hand`of the secondlgar clock '81 is moved on for the space of one minute. 0n. further rotation, therein 90 releases the spring 85 which is then actuated by the pin 100 lmounted on the disc S9, whereby the circuit 79, so, 121, 1011, 90, e5, 12e, es, a4, se, 123, 86, S7, 120, 78 is apparently opened. However, this is not yetl the case, because the coherer still' impressed, prevents complete breaking, until the pin 98 releases the auxiliary corr tactspring 191 and therewith opens the last-nan1ed circuit, without any formation of sparks. Hereupon, the pin 1130 "releases the spring 85 and the latter returns under pressure to its normal position on contact member Si'. At the saine time, the vclockwmlr stops. it the nent t the pin 99 mounted on the disc 89 engades main contact spring 88 and opens conta-ct 85M 87, then the pin 9S engages auxiliary contact spring 102, then the cani 99 engages the Vspring 86. lttiie saine time, the pin 99 releases the sprin,j 86, 'then tappet 90 releases the spring 86 and the pin 100 exerts pressure against the spring' 86, then the pin 98 releasesthe spring 102, then the pinV 100 releases tle spring 86 and the latter returns to its normal Apositian on the Contact member 87; at the saine time, the clockwork stops. This second operation is completed 'in the same manner and with the same edect as the firstoperation. The current, however; flows in opposite direction to that of the first operation, so that the hands ot' the secondary clock are moved on for the space of another minute.

s will appear from 'the description of the two operations, the making and breaking oil-the circuits are started and terminated by the coherer resistance which is switched in before and after, so that the extra currents in both cases are absorbed by the flake coherer. The contact sparks are completely extinguished, so that even wave indicators will not indicate them.

Similar coherer resistances with flake tilling can of course also be employed in the master apparatus or clock to extinguish the. collector spelof the electrornotor 3Q and the spari s at. contacts 3'?, 39

TVith the master clock can also be used,

engages the auxiliary.

circuit which at `the saine timeis' wheel 19,

instead of the electrornotor 30, a weight or spring traction work for maintaining the Working,4 as well switch disc 29. YVitli such driving means it essential that the release and stoppage oi the clockwork should be elected suddenly and at regular intervals, so that the switch disc 2O rotated with the Wheel-work ensures the reliable preparation of the reception coherer 66'101 receiving the Waves. ln the regulating device according to the invention 'this result is obtained in the simplest manner by the use of a lever having several arms (Figs. 1, 8 and 9), without increasing` the load on the clockwork.

The wheels and pinions 19, 24, 25, 26 and 27 mesh with the known gears and pinions of a weight or spring drive. The clockwork is released for rotation by the hammer 43 which is operated by the clockwork every minute. In the state of rest (Fig. 8) a lever arm 116 projecting from the disc 113 lies on the circumference of the disc 26 formed as a fly-wheel and arrests the disc by friction, Whilst a second lever arm 114- of the small disc 11.3 has engaged a tongue in the notch 118 of the disc 11'? mounted rigidly on the switch disc Whilst thecircularly curved end 115 of the lever arm 114 approaches the switch lever 39, but does not touch it. The little disc 113 rocks about a pin underv the weight of its arms 114, 115, and 116. At operation of the hammer 43, the lever 39 (Fie. 9) released by the catch 41 moves upwards under spring pressure and raises the arms 114, 115. At the saine time, the brakes-1mi 116 also moves away from the dying wheel disc 26, whereby the clock- Work is released for rotation. The latter, 19, 22, 117, 24, 25, 26, 27 now rotates until the arm 22 brings the lever S9 back to its locked position and subsequently the tongue of the lever arm 114 engages the notch 118 oi the disc 117, whereby the brake lever 116 againen ges and arrests Wheel disc 26. @n the s aft of the switch disc wheel 19 is mounted the switch disc 20, 2l Snot shown in these figures) which prepares t e parts lor the reception of the waves, as described. The spirit of the invention is not departed from by using the levers 114, 115 and 116 for stopping and releasing the electrornotor disc 26 or 29, nor by using the catch-mernbers operated by the falling hammer 43 together with release levers in clockworlrs operating for instance master clocks without wave regulation.

I wishit to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shownY and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in theart.

l. In an apparatus of the kind described' as for the rotation of the in combination, a master clock comprising a-clockwork and means for automatically' and periodically rewinding said clock-work, an electric circuit including a make and break contact and an y electroiiiagiiet, tlie armature of wliicli is attracted wlien said circuit is closed, locking means holding said armature in itsattractcd position and adapted to periodically release it, regulating means controlled by said clockwork and adapted to alternately bring said locking means into its lockingand releasing positions, said armature when released engagino' and arresting tlie escapement irlieel of said clockwork, and when attracted imparting to said escapenient wlieel an initial swinging movement, said regulating means operating also said make and break contact, a receiver for electric wave impulses Vsa inthe circuit of said electromagnet and adapted to be prepared Afor the reception ot an impulse by closing said contact just before the impulse arrives lto complete said circuit when the impulse does arrive, secondary clocks connected by electric circuits with said` master clock, contacts in said connecting circuits `and nieansyoperated by. said clockwork for yalternately closing and opening said contactsin said connecting circuits.

2.111' apparatus of the kind described in combination, a master' clock comprising a clockwork and means for automatically and periodically rewinding said clockwork, an electric circuitincludingamake and break contact and an electromagnet, the armature of which is attracted when said circuit is closed, locking means holding said/armature inl its attracted position and adapted to periodically release it for arresting said clockwork, regulating means controlled by said clockwork and adapted to alternately bring said locking means into its locking and releasing positions, said regulating means operating also said make and break contact, a receiver for electric wave' impulses in the circuit of 'said electromagnet for conipleting it when tlie impulse arrives, said re-.

ceiver having a secondary circuit with a contact actuated by said regulating means for short circuitiiig said receiver as a reserve in case'an impulse should not arrive, secondary clocks connected by electric circuits with said master clock, contacts iii said connecting circuits and means operated by said clockwork for alternately closing and opening said contacts in said connecting circuits. Y

3. In apparatus of tlie kind described in combination, a master clock comprising` a clockwork, an electromotor for automatically. and periodically i'cwinding` said clock-l workfan electric circuit for said electromotor including a make and break contact an electric circuit including a make and break contact and an electromagnct, the

armature of whiclris .attracted by c'losing,

said electroinagnet circuit, locking -means liolding said armature in its attracted position and 'adapted to periodically release it for arresting said clockwork, regulating.

means controlled by said clockwork and adapted to alternately bring Said, locking means-into its locking and' releasing positions, said regulating means operating. also said make and break contacts in the electro.;

iiiotorand electron'iagnet circuits, a receiver for electric wave impulses in said electro-L said regulating means for short circuitingfA said receiver as a reserve in case an impulse should not arrive, secondary clocks connected by electric circuits with said master clock, contacts in said connecting circuits and a caii'i"actuated by sail clockwork at a liigli rate for alternately closing and opening said contacts in said connecting circuits.

4. 'In apparatus of the kind described in combination, a master clock comprising, a clockwork and means for automatically and periodically rewinding said clockwork,- va brake adapted to automatically and periodically arrest said clockwork,v lmeans controlled by said clockwork to bring said brake into its operative position and out of it, an.

electric circuit including a make and break contact andan electromagnet the armature- -of which, wlien attracted, imparts to Said clockwork an initial movement, locking means controlled by said clockwork for vholding .said armature in its attracted position and for releasing it, regulating means controlled by said clockwork operating said make and break contact, an impulse receiver inserted in said electromagnet circuit for completing it wlieii the impulse arrives, said receiver vhaving a secondary circuit with a contact actuated by said regulating means for slioit cii'cuiting said receiver, secondary clocks connected by electric circuits Witli said master clock, contacts in said connecting circuits and a. cani actua-ted byv said clockwork for alternately closing and opening said contacts in said connecting circuits.

ln apparatus of the kind described in combination, a master clock comprising a clockwork, means for' automatically and periodically rewiiiding and arresting said clockwork, an electric circuit including a make and break contact and aii electromagnet, a locking means for periodically locking and releasing tlie armature of said electroinagnet in its attracted position, regulating means vcontrolled by said clockwork to operate said locking n'ieans axidsaiil make and break contact for preparing said electromagnet circuit, an impulse receiver in' ing a secondary circuit wih a eonact actu-work for aiernatey ciosin ated by said regulating means for short cir Cuiting Said receiver, secondary clocks connected by electric circuits with said master Clock, main contacts in said connecting circuits, Secondary circuits including secondary contacts und resistance eohei'ers with flake filling, and a cam actuated by said clos g and opening said main contacts and said seconeiv conl@ tactst J Aln-testimony whereof I my signature.

FERDINAND SSHNEDMP Attest:

OTTO M SQHMHT, ERNST SCHNEEDER. 

